It is widely believed that poetry in the Soviet Union has lost its place to newspapers and periodicals that have robbed literature of its readers. Prior to glasnost, non-official literature in the Soviet Union was more than a literary event; it was often the only mode of political discourse available to the literate public. This paper suggests that the result is "new literature" and a two-tiered system of commercially viable versus externally subsidized publications primarily for select audiences. The development of a new Soviet literary journal and a new critical vocabulary are discussed. The Committee of Writers in Support of Perestroika and other groups are discussed. The appendices and bibliography are in Russian. Contains 16 references. (LB)